Pernambuco launches first state drug policy plan

The government of Pernambuco introduced the State Drug Policy Plan (Pepod), the first comprehensive drug‑use strategy in the state's history. Vice‑governor Priscila Krause presented the plan, highlighting its focus on prevention, care, social protection and reintegration of people affected by alcohol and other drugs. She said the document reflects “a collective effort … built by many hands and hundreds of hearts” and represents “a leap in quality for public drug policies.”

Pepod was drafted with input from civil society, public agencies and users, and involved ten secretaries covering education, health, human rights, social defence, entrepreneurship, and women’s affairs. The plan was prepared together with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE). Its implementation will be monitored and evaluated to measure effectiveness through 2030, aiming to improve services for people experiencing homelessness, families rebuilding their lives, and therapeutic communities.

The launch coincided with the opening of the state’s second Drug Prevention Week and the release of a best‑practice guide for therapeutic communities.